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REP. DRAZKOWSKI INTRODUCES BILLS TO ENSURE ELECTION INTEGRITY

Thursday, November 12, 2020

St. Paul – Today, Rep. Steve Drazkowski (Republican-Mazeppa) introduced two bills to protect Minnesota elections. The first bill would require voters to provide photo identification when they vote. The second bill would establish provisional balloting. 

“In recent months, we have seen the need for reforms to our voting process,” said Rep. Drazkowski. “Investigative journalists have uncovered different ways our elections are being exploited, and it is time that we take action. The safety and security of our elections should be a top priority for ever legislator. Only through fair elections will the voice of the people be truly represented.”

Rep. Drazkowski’s voter ID bill would require individuals to present photo identification at the polls when they vote. Acceptable forms of photo ID would include a Minnesota driver’s license. However, voters without a driver’s license would be able to apply for a Minnesota voter identification card through The Department of Public Safety. 

“Voter ID is simple, easy, and sensible,” said Rep. Drazkowski. “My bill does not exclude anybody from voting. Everyone who is currently an eligible voter would still be able to vote. Furthermore, photo identification is essential in making sure that individuals do not vote fraudulently. Voter ID is just common sense.”

Rep. Drazkowski’s provisional balloting bill would require individuals to cast a provisional ballot if their voter registration status is in question. This provisional ballot would be set aside and only counted when the individual’s voter registration information is verified. 

“We need to make sure that only legal votes are counted,” said Rep. Drazkowski. “In Minnesota, people can register to vote on Election Day. When individuals register to vote on Election Day, we need a process to determine whether the information they provided is true before their vote is counted. Provisional ballots are the answer, and they are used by 47 states. Only Idaho, New Hampshire, and Minnesota do not utilize provisional balloting. My bill would ensure that the information provided by the voter, such as name and address, is accurate before their ballot is counted. We need to make sure people are providing honest information when they participate in our elections.”

Rep. Drazkowski has served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 14 years and has been a leading voice on issues of election integrity and election fraud. 

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